Al Shabaab threatens to disrupt Somalia's historic election

Islamist militant group al Shabaab has threatened to attack polling stations in October to prevent the country from running its first election since 1984.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesman of the group, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rageh says the scheduled election will serve foreign interests which they are determined to disrupt.

Local media Shabelle News reported that the group warned the country’s 135 elders who will pick delegates for the parliamentary election.

Somalia is scheduled to hold this historic election starting with the parliamentary on September 24 and October 10 for its two Houses. The elected parliamentarians will then elect the president on October 30, 2016.

Per the electoral system in the East African country, Somali clan elders select an electorate of some 14,000 delegates, who will be organized into electoral colleges and will elect the 275 members of parliament. 30 percent of the number is reserved for women.

Somalia was recently commended by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa, during its Summit held in Mogadishu, for implementing the roadmap towards this election.

Incumbent president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is standing for re-election.